Exhibit 99


[LOGO] ST PAUL                                     St. Paul Travelers Companies
       TRAVELERS                                   385 Washington Street
                                                   St. Paul, MN  55102-1396
                                                   www.stpaultravelers.com
NEWS RELEASE


                  ST. PAUL TRAVELERS ISSUES INITIAL ESTIMATE OF
                          LOSSES FROM HURRICANE KATRINA

        Saint Paul, Minn. (September 23, 2005) -- The St. Paul Travelers
Companies, Inc. ("St. Paul Travelers,"  NYSE: STA) announced today that its
preliminary estimate for losses relating to Hurricane Katrina is approximately
$800 million, after tax and after the impact of reinsurance, and including
the cost of reinsurance reinstatement premiums.  The $800 million estimate
assumes a gross loss of $2.5 billion from St. Paul Travelers' Commercial,
Personal and Specialty businesses, including losses arising from its
International and Lloyds operations.

         This preliminary estimate was developed through an analysis of claims
reported and anticipated to be reported, the values of properties in the
affected areas, damage projections estimated by wind force and the presence of
other perils, anticipated costs for demand surge and other factors of
considerable judgment. The reinsurance recoverable portion of the estimate
assumes utilization of the Company's Corporate Catastrophe Treaty and
recoverability under its property and other physical damage treaties and
facultative contracts. After payment of reinstatement premiums, the Company has
coverage for one additional occurrence under its Corporate Catastrophe Treaty
and continuing protection under most of its other treaties.

         Due to the unprecedented nature of this event, including the inability
of the Company and its insureds to access portions of the affected areas, the
complexity of factors contributing to the losses, the legal and regulatory
uncertainties, the preliminary nature of the information available to prepare
these estimates and the potential effects of Hurricane Rita, there can be no
assurance that St. Paul Travelers' ultimate costs associated with Hurricane
Katrina will not exceed these estimates.

         Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jay Fishman said, "In response to
the significant devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, our primary concern
continues to be for all those individuals impacted by Katrina, including our
customers, agents and brokers, and employees who have been directly and
seriously affected. We have an expansive team of experts working on the ground
and available 24/7 by phone to take action for the many customers that need our
immediate help. Our thoughts are with those who have lost so much and continue
to be affected by Katrina's aftermath."

         All statements in this press release other than statements of
historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results of matters
addressed in these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties
and may differ substantially from those expressed or implied. Some of the
factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed in this press
release and under the heading "Forward-Looking Statements" in the company's most
recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

         St. Paul Travelers is a leading provider of property casualty
insurance. For more information, visit www.stpaultravelers.com.

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Contacts

Media:                     Institutional Investors:      Individual Investors:
Shane Boyd                 Maria Olivo                   Marc Parr
651.310.3846, or           860.277.8330                  860.277.0779
Marlene Ibsen
860.277.9039, or
Joan Palm
651.310.2685